photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 85: Curiosity >> Challenge 85: Eligible > Curious Little Yellow Alien*
previous | next
07/13/2005 Techo

Curious Little Yellow Alien*

I had an idea to use the kit lens and magnifying glass instead, which worked out ok but I wanted some color. This one came out just for fun :-) Perhaps not technically perfect but I'm sure glad I had the capability to manually focus with this shot.


other sizes: small medium large original auto
comment | share
Techo 18-Jul-2005 23:29
Photocat, thanks for the kind words :)

From a few quick measurments I think the mag. lens is circle but the outer frame is an oval.

The setup was very simple, I didn't get any extra lights out for this. Used a big piece of white poster board for the background and the ceiling lights where the only light source. As for the shadows, the original had a slight shadow between the two main spot shadows. First applied the "Levels" adjustment on the whole photo. To get rid of the slight shadow in between, using the "Selective Color" dialog... select the color "Whites" from the pick list and slide the "Black" slidebar all the way to the right. I did that again but only selectivly, for the background and shadows only. The last few step may leave some jagged edges on the shadows so I used the blur tool to smooth them out. Other than the sharpening and resizing that should be it. I don't remembing cropping this one. The white balance was a bit off so the Selective Color also got out the nice white background.

Hope this helps :)
Guest 18-Jul-2005 18:04
Techo, I admire your creativity and I know this is a setup and looks fantastic. I would like to learn how this is done... espeacially the separate spot shadows that you have been able to manage for the lens and handle. BTW is the lens oval or circular? Just curious :-) -Cat
Techo 18-Jul-2005 00:08
Thanks Shu :)
ctfchallenge16-Jul-2005 17:23
Great shot! Sooo much creativity!! Shu
ctfchallenge15-Jul-2005 04:36
Edits done: Bumped the contrast and squeezed the cap a bit ;)

-Techo
ctfchallenge14-Jul-2005 22:38
I guess I can squeeze down just the top of the head in photoshop, lazy for a reshoot ;-P

-Techo
ctfchallenge14-Jul-2005 22:33
Hi Andy. I see what you're saying. Thanks for leaving your thoughts.

-Techo :)
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Jul-2005 20:27
Techo; this is a fun image. I like it; colourful and crisp. I just think yu have lost the impact of the glass as it doen't appear to be magnifying the lemonhead even if it is.

andy